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Resources to keep them inspired, not paralyzed.
Dear Reader,
With a mom who’s a climate reporter, my kids have long understood that our planet is warming. But even now, with the Dot Children in their 20s, I still sometimes soften news I’ve heard. I want them inspired, not paralyzed. I want them to feel excited about their futures.
I know other parents struggle, too, aware that our failure to act urgently on climate change is reshaping our children’s future. What do we say to them? How do we speak with honesty while ensuring they feel hopeful?
NPR has made that task easier with a guide to talking to your kids about climate change. Maybe they’re scared about wildfires, or wondering about soaring summer temperatures. NPR’s guide (which includes a printable comic for young kids), takes the position that we’re all working together to build a better world, which is what we’ve always done when faced with challenges. Check it out here.
And if your kids are succumbing to despair, Good Housekeeping has some suggestions for helping them manage their feelings around climate issues.
Dot’s advice? Talk less, listen more. What do they understand about climate change? What are their feelings around what they’re hearing or noticing? What might they want to do to help manage those feelings and maybe address some of the issues that concern them? Be it doing a neighborhood litter cleanup, volunteering to plant trees, or creating a community garden, action is the best antidote to anxiety.
Empathetically,
Dot
For more Bluedot Climate Quick Tips, click here.
